50
years, but that isn't anything ...?
By:
Translated by:
It was 1953, a year full of history, and my father, a renouned Master
Tailor named Mariano invited me and my brother Desiderio to visit
the Puerto de Boniato.
Back
then it was the highest lookout point close to Santiago
de Cuba where you could sip on rum, eat roasted pork, listen to
typical music like the "son" or whatever was in vogue at the
time, and gaze out at the beautiful vista of the most caribbean of cities:
Santiago de Cuba.
50
years later it is the best place to eat roast pork.
Roberto
Prades: “... Today, 50 years later, with my nieces,
nephews and grandchildren, I have shared a wonderful time under torrential
rains and suffocating sun, with the collaborative spirit of Cuban solidarity.
I
remember : “... back in the time when there weren't
any musical groups. They were peasant bands just jamming. Today they
will play most anything for you, from Trova music to
Salsa... how times fly! I am happy with the Casino
style salsa, the music that has its origins in our tradition, interpreted
by the kids today who belong to the Sextet.
...
back then there was the Boniato jail... we had to ride the bus... the
big old house was made out of guano... (bat
excrement).
What
will the moon drink?... When she comes out, every night...?
Roberto,
a good father, has returned to Puerto de Boniato after
50 years. He is accompanied by his wife, Gloria, his
granddaughter, Yeline and his niece, Bárbara
Julia, who had no idea of the natural beauty of this city where
you can enjoy a truly Cuban experience.
It
is here that from Thursday through Sunday, you can hear the Sexteto
de San Vicente. Miguel Salazar on the tres,
Víctor Serra on the tumbadora, Davis
Yirat on guitar, Alfredo Orga on the maracas,
Rubén Ortega on the tres, and Juan Magaña
on the bass, who take you back to that magical moment that all who visit
Cuba wish to find: a truly local group, original, with their own "tumba'o",
their own sound, with their own truth... You will find them here.
While the visitors had lunch and enjoyed this contagious, original music,
a small dog with white and brown spots watched without moving. The salsa
energy and the family atmosphere of those present even made the dog
happy, since nearly everyone there gave the dog a little piece of meat
and a bit of black beans and rice.
The
Sexteto San Vicente, originally from the town of Dos
Caminos, in the Municipio San Luis, delighted us with songs
that ranged from Chan Chan and Beso Discreto, by Francisco
Repilado (Compay Segundo), or Colombia
by Polo Montañés, or even a tribute to
Miguelito Cuní.
Roberto Recalls: 50 years ago we came all dressed in a
tuxedo with bombacho pants and a cream colored linen shirt. Today we
discovered the heart of the colors of time, and with the strumming of
this wonderful music, we bring the memory of the past to life again,
changing it into the footprint of the future. Come and visit!
August
17, 2003.
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